Essay about Machiavelli and War on Terror - 1100 Words

In both The Prince and The Discourses, Machiavelli presents very specific advice on how a ruler can maintain stability and control over his newly acquired state. Machiavelli lived in a time when a ruler could come to possess another kingdom through the simple act of war. Yet, in our modernity, a ruler cannot simply declare war and occupy a territory. He must also face repercussions from the other world powers that are in existence today. Our time has evolved and a ruler now has to take into consideration the opinions of other world powers along with the opinion of other global organizations such as NATO and the United Nations. In terms of the United States and their policies towards Afghanistan and Iraq, Machiavelli would disagree in the†¦show more content†¦Finally, on October 7, 2001, the United States and Britain began airstrikes against Taliban government buildings and training camps. After continued fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Operation New Dawn began in 2 010. Operation New Dawn hoped to create a new face and government for the Iraqi and Afghani people. The policies that the United States has implement towards the War on Terror both conform and diverge from Machiavellian ideals in regards to foreign policy. Machiavelli states that to obtain and maintain power in a newly acquired state a ruler must â€Å"give offense†¦by imposing troops upon them†. The U.S. immediately acted towards this goal after the terrorist attacks in September 2001. The immediate action of the U.S. also correlate with the advice Machiavelli gives about the swiftness that must be taken to avoid war; â€Å"one should never allow a problem to develop in order to avoid war, for you end up not avoiding war, but deferring it to a time that will be less favorable†. By taking immediate action, the U.S. was able to take control of the situation at a time that allowed for the most support from the citizens of the U.S. along with other world powers. This was demonstrated by the surge of support that President Bush obtained immediately after the declar ation of war. Another area in which Machiavelli would agree with the policies implanted by the U.S. would be in the stanceShow MoreRelated Fighting the War on Terrorism Essay1247 Words   |  5 Pagesliberty. As the trailblazer, the United States has earned the right and privilege to set the precedents in this unconventional war against terror. The ambiguity surrounding the issue of terrorism has been in large part responsible for the failure of past attempts at international cooperation on this matter. It is time to pursue alternative methodology. As Machiavelli implies, The [state] is expected to devise his own, new, remedies if the old ones will not suffice(Parel, 10). SurprisinglyRead MorePresident Machiavelli Bush Essay872 Words   |  4 PagesPresident Machiavelli Bush George W. Bush, our current President, must keep a copy of Machiavelli’s most celebrated work, â€Å"The Prince â€Å"(1513), on his desk in the Oval Office. In my opinion, Bush and his administration’s actions mimic Machiavelli’s advice to the Prince on the tactics that he should use to stay in power. I am going to discuss how President Bush uses Machiavellian principles. My first example is of Bush’s â€Å"War on Terror†. In 2001, the President stated that Saddam Read MoreA Good Leader : Lao Tzu1731 Words   |  7 Pagestime so far back, I would have to pick Machiavelli as a great leader. The way the writers present them in the book is almost opposite in every aspect. Lao-Tzu has a laissez-faire approach on things, while Machiavelli is the opposite and is ready for war. First of all, when Lao-Tzu says, â€Å"If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them† (213). That whole statement would throw society off now. It would make society decide that overall Machiavelli was the better leader, because of howRead MoreA Good Leader : Lao Tzu919 Words   |  4 Pagestime so far back, I would have to pick Machiavelli as a great leader. The way the writers present them in the book is almost opposite in every aspect. Lao-Tzu has a laissez-faire approach on things, while Machiavelli is the opposite and is ready for war. First of all, when Lao-Tzu says, â€Å"If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them† (213). That whole statement would throw society off now. It would make society decide that overall Machiavelli was the better leader, because of howRead MoreAnalysis Of Machiavellis The Prince978 Words   |  4 Pagestrustworthy prince. On the other end of the spectrum, some princes, like King John, gained fame as evil men that brought terror on their reigned lands. But what should a prince be? 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Stalin is likeRead MoreObama the Machiavellian3366 Words   |  14 Pageshave been taken into deep consideration and are commonly exercised in politics today. If Machiavelli were alive today he would agree that qualities of the current president Barack Obama coincide with his prince-like standards and make him the ideal candidate for the 2012 Presidential Election. Residing in the Florence Italy during the Renaissance, the founder of modern political science, Niccolo Machiavelli, was well known for his harsh political views. During this time period most European countries